Bicycle front derailleur

Abstract

A front derailleur has a base member adapted to be coupled to a bicycle frame, a chain guide, first and second pivotal links coupled between the base member and the chain guide, and a biasing member normally biasing the chain guide toward a first position. The biasing member is disposed on a pivot axis pivotally coupling the first link to the chain guide to be at least partially located in front of the part of the first link coupled to the base member. The first link is preferably an inner link located closer to the frame than the second link. Preferably, portions of the first link are at least partially offset due to a transitional portion arranged between them. Preferably, the second link includes a cable attachment portion and a pair of axially spaced mounting elements pivotally coupled to ends of an attachment element of the base member.

1. A bicycle front derailleur comprising:
 a base member configured to be coupled to a bicycle frame; 
 a movable member having a front end, a rear end and a chain guide portion configured to be moved between first and second positions; 
 a first link member including a first coupling portion pivotally coupled to said base member and a second coupling portion pivotally coupled to said movable member about a first pivot axis, said first coupling portion of said first link having a first forwardmost surface and a first rearwardmost surface, and said second coupling portion of said first link having a second forwardmost surface and a second rearwardmost surface; 
 a second link member including a first coupling portion pivotally coupled to said base member and a second coupling portion pivotally coupled to said movable member about a second pivot axis; and 
 a biasing member disposed on said first pivot axis to normally bias said movable member to said first position relative to said base member, 
 said biasing member being at least partially located in front of said first forwardmost surface of said first coupling portion of said first link member relative to said movable member when said front derailleur is mounted to the bicycle frame in a normal operating position, and said biasing member being located completely in front of said second forwardmost surface of said second coupling portion of said first link relative to said movable member when said front derailleur is mounted to the bicycle frame in the normal operating position, 
 the normal operating position being defined as a position where said chain guide portion extends longitudinally on a right side of the bicycle frame such that the front end of said movable member is located closer to a handlebar mounting portion of the frame than the rear end of said movable member, said first and second forwardmost surfaces facing substantially forward toward the handlebar mounting portion of the frame and said first and second rearwardmost surfaces facing substantially rearwardly away from the handlebar mounting portion of the frame when said front derailleur is mounted to the bicycle frame in the normal operating position. 
 
   
   
     2. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said biasing member is axially mounted on a first pin that pivotally couples said movable member to said second coupling portion of said first link member. 
 
   
   
     3. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 2 , wherein
 said biasing member is a coil spring with a first spring end engaged with said movable member and a second spring end engaged with said first link member. 
 
   
   
     4. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said second link member has a cable attachment portion adapted to fixedly couple a cable thereto. 
 
   
   
     5. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 4 , wherein
 said biasing member has a front end engaging said movable member and a rear end engaging said first link member. 
 
   
   
     6. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 5 , wherein
 said cable attachment portion of said second link member is located above said first coupling portion of said second link member when said front derailleur is mounted to the bicycle frame in the normal operating position. 
 
   
   
     7. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said movable member includes a pair of axially spaced attachment elements pivotally coupled to said second coupling portion of said first link member. 
 
   
   
     8. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said movable member includes a pair of axially spaced attachment elements pivotally coupled to said second coupling portion of said second link member. 
 
   
   
     9. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said base member includes a tubular clamping portion. 
 
   
   
     10. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said base member includes first and second axially spaced attachment elements with said first coupling portion of said first link member pivotally coupled between said first and second attachment elements of said base member. 
 
   
   
     11. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said first coupling portion of said first link member is located closer to the bicycle frame than said first coupling portion of said second link member when said front derailleur is mounted to the bicycle frame in the normal operating position, and 
 said second coupling portion of said first link member is located closer to the bicycle frame than said second coupling portion of said second link member when said front derailleur is mounted to the bicycle frame in the normal operating position. 
 
   
   
     12. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 11 , wherein
 said second coupling portion of said first link member is located below said first coupling portion of said first link member when said front derailleur is mounted to the bicycle frame in the normal operating position, and 
 said second coupling portion of said second link member is located below said first coupling portion of said second link member when said front derailleur is mounted to the bicycle frame in the normal operating position. 
 
   
   
     13. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said first link member includes a first transitional portion arranged between said first and second coupling portions of said first link member such that said second rearwardmost surface of said second coupling portion of said first link member is offset rearwardly from said first rearwardmost surface of said first coupling portion of said first link member relative to said movable member when said front derailleur is mounted to the bicycle frame in the normal operating position. 
 
   
   
     14. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said first coupling portion of said second link member includes a pair of axially spaced mounting elements pivotally coupled to axially oppose ends of an attachment element of said base member. 
 
   
   
     15. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said biasing member has a front end engaging said movable member and a rear end engaging said first link member. 
 
   
   
     16. A bicycle front derailleur comprising:
 a base member configured to be coupled to a bicycle frame; 
 a movable member having a front end, a rear end and a chain guide portion configured to be moved between first and second positions; 
 a first link member including a first coupling portion pivotally coupled to said base member and a second coupling portion pivotally coupled to said movable member about a first pivot axis, said first coupling portion of said first link having a first forwardmost surface and a first rearwardmost surface, and said second coupling portion of said first link having a second forwardmost surface and a second rearwardmost surface; 
 a second link member including a first coupling portion pivotally coupled to said base member and a second coupling portion pivotally coupled to said movable member about a second pivot axis; and 
 a biasing member disposed on said first pivot axis to normally bias said movable member to said first position relative to said base member, 
 said biasing member being at least partially located in front of said first forwardmost surface of said first coupling portion of said first link member relative to said movable member when said front derailleur is mounted to the bicycle frame in a normal operating position, 
 said first link member including a first transitional portion arranged between said first and second coupling portions of said first link member such that said second rearwardmost surface of said second coupling portion of said first link member is offset rearwardly from said first rearwardmost surface of said first coupling portion of said first link member relative to said movable member when said front derailleur is mounted to the bicycle frame in the normal operating position, 
 the normal operating position being defined as a position where said chain guide portion extends longitudinally on a right side of the bicycle frame such that the front end of said movable member is located closer to a handlebar mounting portion of the frame than the rear end of said movable member, said first and second forwardmost surfaces facing substantially forward toward the handlebar mounting portion of the frame and said first and second rearwardmost surfaces facing substantially rearwardly away from the handlebar mounting portion of the frame when said front derailleur is mounted to the bicycle frame in the normal operating position. 
 
   
   
     17. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 16 , wherein said biasing member is axially mounted on a first pin that pivotally couples said movable member to said second coupling portion of said first link member. 
   
   
     18. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 17 , wherein said biasing member is a coil spring with a first spring end engaged with said movable member and a second spring end engaged with said first link member. 
   
   
     19. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 16 , wherein said second link member has a cable attachment portion adapted to fixedly couple a cable thereto. 
   
   
     20. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 19 , wherein
 said biasing member has a front end engaging said movable member and a rear end engaging said first link member. 
 
   
   
     21. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 20 , wherein
 said cable attachment portion of said second link member is located above said first coupling portion of said second link member when said front derailleur is mounted to the bicycle frame in the normal operating position. 
 
   
   
     22. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 16 , wherein
 said movable member includes a pair of axially spaced attachment elements pivotally coupled to said second coupling portion of said first link member. 
 
   
   
     23. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 16 , wherein
 said movable member includes a pair of axially spaced attachment elements pivotally coupled to said second coupling portion of said second link member. 
 
   
   
     24. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 16 , wherein said base member includes a tubular clamping portion. 
   
   
     25. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 16 , wherein
 said base member includes first and second axially spaced attachment elements with said first coupling portion of said first link member pivotally coupled between said first and second attachment elements of said base member. 
 
   
   
     26. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 16 , wherein
 said second coupling portion of said first link member includes a pair of axially spaced mounting elements with said biasing member arranged axially between said mounting elements. 
 
   
   
     27. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 16 , wherein
 said first coupling portion of said first link member is located closer to the bicycle frame than said first coupling portion of said second link member when said front derailleur is mounted to the bicycle frame in the normal operating position, and 
 said second coupling portion of said first link member is located closer to the bicycle frame than said second coupling portion of said second link member when said front derailleur is mounted to the bicycle frame in the normal operating position. 
 
   
   
     28. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 27 , wherein
 said second coupling portion of said first link member is located below said first coupling portion of said first link member when said front derailleur is mounted to the bicycle frame in the normal operating position, and 
 said second coupling portion of said second link member is located below said first coupling portion of said second link member when said front derailleur is mounted to the bicycle frame in the normal operating position. 
 
   
   
     29. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 16 , wherein
 said biasing member is located completely in front of said second forwardmost surface of said second coupling portion of said first link relative to said movable member when said front derailleur is mounted to the bicycle frame in the normal operating position. 
 
   
   
     30. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 16 , wherein
 said first coupling portion of said second link member includes a pair of axially spaced mounting elements pivotally coupled to axially opposed ends of an attachment element of said base member. 
 
   
   
     31. The bicycle front derailleur according to  claim 16 , wherein
 said biasing member has a front end engaging said movable member and a rear end engaging said first link member.